THE ROBBER SCIRON IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY

Sciron was a famous robber in Greek mythology. Sciron would push travellers over the edge of the cliff, as they were in the process of washing his feet. 

Sciron in Greek Mythology

​The parentage of Sciron is an extremely confusing one with some calling him a son of Poseidon, a son of Canethus and Henioche, or a son of Pelops.

Sciron was said by some to be the father of Endeis, the future wife of King Aeacus, although other parentage for Endeis is more commonly given. 

​Sciron the Robber

Sciron would become an infamous bandit, found on the borders between Attica and Megara.

There, upon the narrow path along the cliff, travellers were compelled by Sciron to wash his feet. As the travellers bent down to comply with the bandit’s wishes, so Sciron kicked them over the edge of the cliff.

​At that spot, were the Scironian Rocks, where resided a monstrous sea-creature, which some say was a giant turtle. This beast would then devour the fallen travellers. 

Having already encountered the Crommyonian Sow, Theseus travelled on towards Athens. It was then that Theseus encountered Sciron. Sciron proved to be an easy opponent to Theseus, who simply hurled him over the cliff edge, where Sciron was devoured by the giant turtle. 

After killing Sciron it was said that Theseus then instigated the Isthmian Games as penance, either because Sicron was the son of Poseidon, or because he was the grandson of Pittheus the man who had raised Theseus. 

​A Second Sciron

​There was another Sciron spoken of in Greek mythology, and some say that they were the same man. The other Sciron was the commander of the Megarian army, for this man had married the daughter of Pandion, before Nisus had become king. 

More commonly this Sciron is said to have been the son of Pylas, the suggestion is that Sciron was made a villain by the Athenians because of the rivalry with Megara in antiquity. 

Contents

Colin Quartermain - The Robber Sciron - 6th March 2022